No-wipe whole blood glucose test strip

ABSTRACT

A whole blood glucose test strip for measuring glucose in an unmeasured whole blood sample is described, the test strip being adapted for use in a reflectance reading apparatus capable of measuring reflectance at two different wavelengths. The test strip comprises a porous, hydrophilic matrix having a sample receiving surface adapted to receive the whole blood sample on one side of the matrix and a testing surface from which diffuse reflected light is measurable from the other side of the matrix, wherein the testing surface is opposite to the sample receiving surface. The matrix is substantially reflective in the absence of applied sample, and contains openings of a size sufficient to allow the flow of at least a portion of the blood sample through the matrix from the sample-receiving surface to the testing surface. The matrix comprises glucose oxidase, peroxidase, and a dye precursor for chemically reacting with glucose to create a change in reflectance in the presence of optically visible hemoglobin observable from the testing surface which change is indicative of the concentration of glucose present in the sample. The dye precursor comprises 3-dimethylaminobenzoic acid and 3-methyl-2-benzothiazolinone hydrazone hydrochloride.



